Newtown Supervisors To Oppose Variance For New Daycare, Medical Office

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — A developer won’t be getting any support from the township for its plans to build a medical office and daycare center on Durham Road just north of the township complex.

On Wednesday night, the board of supervisor voted unanimously to oppose a variance request by Durham Investments to build a 10,000 square foot day care center, a 10,000 square foot medical office and to convert an existing attached dwelling into office space with associated parking at 413 Durham Road.

Durham is seeking 39.4 percent impervious coverage where 30 percent is the maximum allowed under the ordinance in the zoning district.

This is the same property where 27 town homes had been previously proposed, recalled solicitor Dave Sander. The township fought that plan at the zoning hearing board and the application was
subsequently withdrawn because town homes were not a permitted use.

“The three proposed uses on this property are permitted by conditional use,” Sander told the board. “They will need to come in for conditional use approval for the office, medical office and daycare use.”

The supervisors agreed to send its solicitor to the Nov. 2 zoning hearing board meeting to oppose the requested relief.

“We should stick to our ordinances,” said Supervisor Elen Snyder. “I don’t think that kind of increase (in impervious coverage) is acceptable.”

“I don’t buy their argument that other townships have a lot higher impervious surface limit,” added Supervisor John Mack. “Newtown is Newtown and they should obey our laws. I’m really sick and tired of developers coming before the board most of the time asking for an increase in impervious surface. There’s a reason why we have this and I’m against this (request).”